In the first hour, presenters include Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Rosemary Rice, Patricia McCormack, Dick Van Patten, Conrad Bain, Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges, Dinah Shore, and Ella Fitzgerald. Award winners for outstanding achievements include: Eileen Brennan, supporting actress in a comedy, variety, or music series ("Private Benjamin"); Danny DeVito, supporting actor in a comedy, variety, or music series ("Taxi"); Michael Conrad, supporting actor in a drama series ("Hill Street Blues"); Nancy Marchand, supporting actress in a drama series ("Lou Grant"); Jerry Juhl, David Odell, (the following not present): Chris Langham, Jim Henson and the late Don Hinkley, writing for a variety, music, or comedy program ("The Muppet Show with Carol Burnett"); David Mischer, directing for a variety, music, or comedy program ("The Kennedy Center Honors: A National Celebration of the Performing Arts"). Award winners not in attendance include Jane Alexander, supporting actress in a limited series or special ("Playing for Time"); and David Warner, supporting actor in a limited series or special ("Masada"). Also included is a tribute to Max Liebman, a segment entitled "Musical Moments of TV," presented by Lawrence Welk, and clips of the following individuals: Jimmy Durante, Carol Burnett, Charlie Ruggles, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Don Rickles, Julia Child, Johnny Carson, the Lennon Sisters, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, Fred Astaire, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Dinah Shore, and Ella Fitzgerald. Clips of the following comedies are included: "I Remember Mama," "Dobie Gillis," "Leave it to Beaver," "The Goldbergs," "Father Knows Best," "Make Room for Daddy," "My Three Sons," "Dennis the Menace," "Bachelor Father," and "Ozzie and Harriet."

In the second hour, performers include O'Toole and Rod Steiger in a tribute to Paddy Chayefsky, Clint Holmes, Linda Hopkins, Nell Carter, Itzhak Perlman, Billy Jacoby, Dean Jones, Danielle Brisebois, Nancy Dussault, and others. Presenters include Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune, Yoko Shimada, Annette Funicello, Tony Danza, Marilu Henner, DeVito, John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, Priscilla Barnes, Beatrice Arthur, Bill Macy, and Rue McClanahan. Award winners for outstanding achievements include Michael Kozoll and Steven Bochco, drama series writing ("Hill Street Station" episode of "Hill Street Blues"); Robert Butler, directing for a drama series ("Hill Street Station" episode of "Hill Street Blues"); James Burrows, directing for a comedy series ("Elaine's Strange Triangle" episode of "Taxi"); James Goldstone, directing in a limited series or a special ("Kent State"); and Barbara Babcock, lead actress, and Daniel J. Travanti, lead actor, in a drama series ("Hill Street Blues"). Award winners not in attendance include: Anthony Hopkins, lead actor in a limited series or special ("The Bunker"); Vanessa Redgrave, lead actress in a limited series or special ("Playing for Time"); Arthur Miller, writing for a limited series or special ("Playing for Time"); and Michael Leeson, comedy series writing ("Tony's Sister and Jim" episode of "Taxi"). Included are clips of Astaire, Walt Disney, Ed Sullivan, Jack Benny, and others. Includes commercials and a promo. Commercials include E.G. Marshall for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and Steve Guttenberg for Coca-Cola. Continues with T81:1030.

In the third hour, performers include Billy Jacoby, Dean Jones, Danielle Brisebois, and Nancy Dussault.